2007 CFN Mountain West Preview
Unit Rankings
Team Previews
Air Force
|
BYU
| Colorado State
|
New Mexico
San Diego State |
TCU
|
UNLV
|
Utah
|
Wyoming
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2007 CFN Mountain West Preview
-
CFN All-Mountain West Team &
Top 30 Players
- Mountain West Team-by-Team
Capsules
- Mountain West Schedules &
Predictions
1.
Utah
Look out. Utah not only gets just
about everyone back with its top six wide receivers, leading
rusher Darryl Poston, and four starting offensive linemen, but
it also welcomes back its superstar, quarterback Brian Johnson,
after taking last year off to recover from a torn ACL. All the
problems with inconsistency throughout last season should be
gone thanks to all the experience. Expect more explosion, a slew
of Mountain West all-stars, and for Johnson to become a national
college football name. There's more than enough depth at the
skill positions to withstand injuries, but there's no
development among the backups on the line.
2. BYU
3. TCU
4. Colorado State
5. New Mexico
6. San Diego State
7. Wyoming
8. UNLV
9. Air Force
1.
Utah
Ratliff had his ups-and-downs last
season, but he was generally solid leading the Utes to an eight
win season and a miraculous play by BYU's John Beck of finishing
up with a five-game winning streak. Brian Johnson will do even more
and should take the offense to another level. If Utah could win
with Brett Ratliff, it should be able to dominate with Johnson.
Tommy Grady
and Chad Manis are good backups who should be able to carry things
for a while if needed, though Utah can't win the Mountain West
title if they're under center.
2. BYU
3. San Diego State
4. Air Force
5. UNLV
6. Wyoming
7. TCU
8. New Mexico
9. Colorado State
1.
Colorado State
The return of
Kyle Bell will save the nation's
113th ranked running game. An improved offensive line will help
the cause, but it's Bell who'll make the ground game sink or
swim. Several backup options are ready to see time, but they'll
only get in if something happens to the star.
2. TCU
3. New Mexico
4. San Diego State
5. BYU
6. Wyoming
7. Utah
8. Air Force
9. UNLV
1. Utah
The Utes are loaded with experience and
talent, and now it's time for everyone to start doing more. More
consistency, more big plays, and more home runs are a must for a
corps with so many viable weapons. While the backs and tight
ends are involved in the passing game, the wide receivers are
the focus with the top six pass catchers last year all wideouts.
That won't change.
2. Colorado State
3. New Mexico
4. UNLV
5. Wyoming
6. BYU
7. TCU
8. San Diego State
9. Air Force
1.
TCU
The line isn't going to be better after
losing Herb Taylor, but there are enough very, very good players to be
strong enough to dominate at times. After allowing just 15 sacks last
season, and paving the way for the nation's ninth best running attack,
there's a lot to live up to. If Matty Lindner, Blake Schlueter and Wade Sisk play as
expected, the line could be almost as good.
2. BYU
3. Utah
4. New Mexico
5. Colorado State
6. UNLV
7. Wyoming
8. San Diego State
9. Air Force
1.
TCU
The Horned Frogs finished second in
the nation in total defense, third in scoring defense, and led
the Mountain West in several top categories. It'll be a total
shock if they weren't even better. The only possible problems
will come if injuries strike. Nine starters return, led by
all-star ends Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz, who make life easy
for everyone else on the defense with the pressure they provide.
The 4-2-5 has four good linebackers, an amazing group of
safeties, rising stars at corner, and a good, active line. The
only potential issue is a lack of raw bulk at tackle, but that's
looking for a problem.
2. New Mexico
3. BYU
4. Wyoming
5. Colorado State
6. Utah
7. Air Force
8. UNLV
9. San Diego State
1.
TCU
As long as Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz are Tommy Blake and
Chase Ortiz, TCU will finish in the top ten in America in sacks and tackle for
loss. Everything revolves around the outside going in, and James Vess and
Cody Moore should shine with all the focus on the stars. TCU always finds
productive playmakers to fill the gaps, and it'll have to hope a good
rotation forms among the reserves over the course of the season.
2. BYU
3. New Mexico
4. Colorado State
5. Utah
6. Wyoming
7. UNLV
8. Air Force
9. San Diego State
1.
TCU
This is the Mountain West's best
linebacking corps, and it's not even close. Jason Phillips is a lock for
all-star honors, David Hawthorne has jacked his game up to another level and
will be an all-star, and Henson is an all-star in reserve. Daryl Washington,
when all is said and done, might be the most talented of the bunch, and
former LSU transfer Darius Ingram is a nice emergency backup waiting in
the wings.
2. BYU
3. New Mexico
4. Wyoming
5. Utah
6. Colorado State
7. Air Force
8. San Diego State
9. UNLV
1.
TCU
How good was the TCU pass defense? Texas
Tech was held to 204 yards and no touchdowns, and there was only one
game with more than 300 yards allowed (the loss to BYU). With the
emergence of players like Nick Sanders and Brian Bonner into stars, it'll be a
major disappointment if this isn't the league's best secondary.
2. New Mexico
3. BYU
4. Colorado State
5. Utah
6. Wyoming
7. Air Force
8. UNLV
9. San Diego State
1. Utah
As long as Louie Sakoda doesn't falter under
the weight of having to carry the entire kicking game and is able to do
what he did last season, Utah will have some of the best special teams
in the nation. Brice McCain has the potential to be a special kickoff returner.
2. TCU
3. Colorado State
4. UNLV
5. New Mexico
6. BYU
7. San Diego State
8. Wyoming
9. Air Force